Chromecast on Mac: How to Use & Setup Chromecast for Mac

Google Chromecast has been revolutionary. Before the advent of Chromecast, watching things on your television was a lot more difficult. Often flash drives were needed, or data required to be sent or transferred somehow. Chromecast, however, is a game changer. Chromecast on Mac lets you wirelessly broadcast media from your Mac to your TV.

It is super easy to set up and easily one of the most innovative things regarding television in recent times. Today, I will show you exactly how to set up Chromecast on Mac and get it running. I will also show you some alternatives to Chromecast.

Set Up Chromecast on Mac

Step One: The basics

Your Google Chromecast box will contain a variety of essential things within it. It will have USB Type And USB Type micro B cable as well. You should also find an HDMI dongle and Short Extension Cable. Before you can start using the Chromecast for Mac, physical set up and the software set up needs to be completed. Make sure you find all the necessary things in your Google Chromecast box.

Connect Chromecast to TV: You need to find your TV’s HDMI Socket. It should either be in the back or the side. It depends on your TV’s model. Connect Chromecast at this slot. Next, Insert USB Micro-B connector into the Dongle.

The USB Type A connector goes into a spare USB slot in the back of your TV. You can also use the extender cable for the HDMI which is included in the box. Use it in case you are unable to reach all the places. This should give you some room. Now, you can Turn on TV! Please make sure that the input source to the HDMI Channel is the same as the socket. Now, we move on to the next step.

Step Two: Setting up the Chromecast on Mac

Next, you need to Connect your Mac to the same WiFi Connection to which your Chromecast is connected. This is very important. You need to make sure that your network does not fluctuate or this could cause playback issues for the Chromecast.

Now, on your Mac, open your Chrome web browser and go to this site: https://www.google.com/chromecast/setup/

Since you are on the Mac, click the Download Button on the right side. It will prompt you for Terms and Conditions, Accept and Install the app. After the app is Installed, run it, and it will scan your network for any available Chromecast Devices. Remember, for the scan to accurately locate your Chromecast, you should have your Chromecast for Mac on the same network.

You should also make sure you are sitting close by to it. Sometimes your router or your Mac’s network settings can cause you not to find your Chromecast. Just change your WiFi network to 2.4 GHz mode instead of 5GHZ or mixed.

After you locate the Chromecast, tap on the blue set up button. Now click the applicable setup and then select your country from the dropdown list. Now, your Chromecast App should display a number or code. Make sure this is the same number which is appearing on your TV. Make sure you check it multiple times. Once you have checked it, you can click on “that’s my code”. Doing this will directly connect you and display a message, “Congratulations! You are ready to cast”.

Step Three: The Browser Extension

Once you have received the congratulations, you will also be prompted to install the browser extension on chrome. Just click on the blue “Get Cast Extension” button and then add it. After that, it will Install and Confirm. You should see the new extension on your browser afterwards.

Step Four: How to use the Chromecast for Mac

Using the Chromecast on Mac is very simple. Chromecast for Mac is created for convenience and quickly lets you broadcast or cast media onto your TV. When you are using your Chrome Browser on Mac, you can press the cast extension on the toolbar. This will begin casting the entire browser on your TV! That includes anything you may be watching. You can also cast movies and shows.

Alternatives to Chromecast

For some reason, maybe you do not want Chromecast on Mac, whatever it may be, there are tons of fantastic Alternatives to Chromecast. All of these alternatives are convenient and easy to use.

Amazon Fire TV

This is an excellent alternative for people who do not want to get Chromecast, and it even has the Alexa remote thrown in.

Roku Streaming Stick

This is a real value dongle. It provides an excellent and crisp experience.

Fire TV Cube by Amazon

This device is also powered by Alexa. It allows you to use your TV without using your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which Apps Can be Streamed by Using Chromecast?

Answer – The list of apps supported by Chromecast is a constantly changing one. It also depends on the country you are in. But generally, it supports most apps like BBC iPlayer, Google Play Music, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Pandora, Plex, PostTV, RealPlayer Cloud, Red Bull TV, Songza, Vevo, Viki, YouTube. But do not worry, this list does not end here. Many apps and sites today allow you to cast the media on your TV. Most of these options are included directly in the site’s media player as well.

Question – Is VLC to Chromecast Mac possible?

Answer – At the moment, this does not seem viable. There are many alternative apps to VLC that more or less have the same features. They will allow you to cast them whenever you wish.

Some performance tips

While most of the time Chromecast works well, but sometimes the quality can vary. The quality of the stream can get affected by a lot of things. Remember, it is still live streamed to your chromecast, so it depends on how fast your internet connection is as well.

It is also a good idea to always use a site with native chromecast support. Sites like Netflix, Prime and Youtube, will always work well. Direct streaming media is also better, that will conserve the quality of the stream. It will always be better than streaming via browsers or tabs.

Streaming lost files from Mac

You can retrieve your lost or deleted files using Disk Drill. Disk Drill recovers lost data from within your device. It does so with the help of iTunes backups. So if you ever delete something and you want to stream that to your Chromecast, you can always use DiskDrill.

Just recover the required files and start streaming from your Mac to your Chromecast usually. Disk Drill works on videos, photos, files etc. and it is free. It also offers tons of other cool features to help protect and backup your data.